Books

Ken Kesey (1962) One Flew Over the Cuckoo s Nest , US first editions, first printing and first state. Signed and inscribed by the author on the ffep: For Michael [underscore] Ken Kesey . First state with That fool Red Cross Woman on page 9, and Red Cross woman named Gwen-doe-lin, with the blond hair the patients are always arguing about. on the top of page 86 as called for. Those passages were in subsequent printings removed following a court case which Kesey lost. About the Kesey signature: Ken Kesey whenever his time permitted and fans sent in their books for him to sign used to pen this title in various colours. This was meant to represent the psychedellic period of his life and also the topic of the book. Kesey took LSD as part of CIA experiments and later also other drugs together with the Beat Generation of American writers. Condition: the book is in absolutely fine condition without any previous owner s scribbles, no bookplates and no stamps. The cloth boards are vibrant in colour and clean and the lettering on the spine is NOT rubbed out as often encountered. No bumps to any of the corners. NO foxing. The very good original first state dust jacket designed by Paul Bacon is NOT price clipped showing the USD 4.95 and Jack Kerouac blurb as called for. There are three small professional tape repairs to the jacket as shown and the top spine edge has been a triffle retouched. The spine is just a touch colour faeded compared to the front panel. The book is housed in a sturdy quarter bound leather tray case which protects the book for generations to come. The spine of the case displays the title, author s name, year and Presentation Copy and makes it stand out on the shelf. A scarce landmark book in superb condition of one of the most important and influential American books of the 20th century, and defining novel of the counter-culture movement. Adapted for cinema by Milo Forman in 1975 starring Jack Nicholson. The film won five Academy Awards (Oscars). First and Fine.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a novel written by Ken Kesey, first published in 1962. The book is a powerful critique of the mental health system and a poignant study of institutional processes and the human mind.